Training the Watch

As Watch Leader, part of your role is to ensure that each member of the watch progresses through the badge scheme.

You should have an idea where each member of your watch is regarding the’ badges he or she is working on.

Progress in the badge scheme can take place in watch comers, at a troop meeting, on watch activities or on troop activities.

Before each activity, members of the watch should set themselves a target of what they want to try and complete on the activity and then prepare to do that.

Sometimes it is an idea to arrange a watch activity to get a number of tasks completed. You can bring along a leader or specialist in the topic to instruct the scouts in your watch.

As WL you should always make sure to have a copy of the Sea Scout Handbook and the badge requirements handy.

If you choose to instruct members of your watch in a skill or topic he are a few pointers to remember:-

1 . Be proficient in the skill or topic. 2. If you don’t know the answer to a question say so (but you should find out). 3. Tell a scout and they may forget. 4. Show a scout and they may remember. 5. Involve a scout and they will understand.

It is not necessary for the watch leader to know the answer to everything. A good watch leader will encourage scouts to find out the answers themselves and thereby become more self sufficient rather than be dependent on somebody else having the answer to everything.